I was fortunate to have my grandparents, three of them, with me not only during my childhood but well into my young adult years. Faith was a big part of their life, and many of their walls bore the beautiful images popular in Catholicism. My grandfather diligently kept a 12-month calendar on the wall of their kitchen, and it was here I first saw the image of the Sacred Heart when I was young.

Devotion to the Sacred Heart began around 1672, and continues today as we honor His divine love for us. While we celebrate year long, the Sacred Heart feast day is celebrated 19 days after Pentecost (usually in May/June). The crown of thorns represent Jesus’s death, while the fire represents the transformative power of divine love. (You can learn more here about the Sacred Heart.)

This Sacred Heart quilt pattern combines foundation paper piece within the heart and radiant rays, applique flames and crown of thorns, and both traditional and improv piecing for the finishing details. If you’re new to paper piecing, this great video shows you how.

Don’t you love the tones in that thread? It’s Grape Wine from Sulky’s Blendable collection…I absolutely love the effect it creates on the quilt. I’m tempted to add additional straight-line stitches to the radiating purple background; it really makes the yellow rays of light pop!

This Sacred Heart quilt finishes at 13” x 18”, but the paper piecing templates can easily be print at greater than 100% (in your printer settings) to make a larger banner perfect for your church or home! Includes a coloring sheet so you can test colors out prior to beginning your sewing.

Are you looking for a fun way to teach fine motor skills *and* faith to your child? This felt Bible activity book provides hands-on learning for children ages 2-4, all while teaching them about the miracles of Jesus. With this book, your children will have the opportunity to snap, button, pull, zip, and Velcro their way through five of the miracles that Jesus performed.

The 11-page felt Bible activity book is created to have both a learning and activity page to engage the mind as well as the imagination!

LEARNING PAGES: On the left, the miracle and scripture reading appear at the top of the page, followed by three sections:

Summary: provides a brief synopsis on the miracle

Activity: ties the activity page into the miracle, and provides the hands-on learning goal (i.e.: snaps, Velcro, zipper, etc.) for that page

Lesson: for older children, the lesson provides a deeper insight into the miracle and shows how it applies to their own life

These learning pages come pre-designed…all you do is print them out onto printable fabric* right from your home printer, cut out, and attach to the pages of your book!

ACTIVITY PAGES: each activity page provides countless ways for your child’s imagination to interact with the miracle that Jesus performs. Children can perform the miracle themselves through hands-on-learning, and then let their imagination take over as they play with the pieces on the page.

Your children will be amazed as they turn blue water into red wine, using the cups and pitcher to increase the play. Next, they’ll practice felt as they bring Jarius’s daughter back to life and give her food to eat with the movable pieces. Then they’ll head to Capernaum and try their small hand skills at pulling a fish from the water…and a coin from his mouth. Next they’ll shout, “Lazarus, come out!” and not only unzip but unwrap him from the tomb. Lastly, they’ll head to Bethany and practice their button skills as they remove the leaves from the cursed fig tree.

This Level 2 book is made for children between the ages of 2 – 4 years of age, but can fit the needs of children older or younger depending on where they are in their development. Additionally, options are provided on some of the pages so that parents can modify the page based on the needs of their children. (Check back in June for the release of our Level 1 book!)

The 46-page eBook contains everything you need to make your own felt Bible activity quiet book – and it’s designed for both the not-so-crafty as well as crafting queen! You’ll walk through two options for sewing the book by either hand- or machine-stitching (though you can even glue if sewing isn’t for you…see image below), receive complete supplies list, all printable-to-fabric learning pages including the personalized cover, cut-out patterns for each piece on the activity pages, a few ways to modify an activity page based on your family’s needs, and step-by-step directions on how to assemble the pages and book.

I’m so excited to share this felt Bible activity quiet book with you, and hope it becomes an integral part of your child’s development! …and what a beautiful, personal gift to your child, knowing it is a book that *you* made for them.

“The pages tell the wonderful stories of Jesus’ miracles, engaging a child’s natural curiosity and need to feel and touch while also igniting their imagination about the miracles Jesus performed.” – Gina @ SomedaySaints.com

“This adorable little book is the perfect toy to keep your little ones quiet at church – not only will they have the chance to practice fine motor skills, but they’ll learn more about the miracles of Jesus at the same time!” – Lisa Healy at Syncopated Mama

This will be our fifth Lent with our little man, and we’ve found one of the best ways to teach is through hands-on activities. Learning while at play, and with busy hands, not only provides a creative outlet but gives the family a chance to create something together.

Our new eBook, Family Activities for Lent and Easter, contains twelve different projects to take you through Ash Wednesday, Holy Week, Triduum, and Easter. Each activity is broken down into four parts:

Opening Discussion: a child-friendly way to introduce the project that ties in their faith in a way they will understand.

What You Need: a full materials list by project so you’ll have everything you need at your fingertips

How To Make: a thorough step-by-step set of instructions give you a walk through as you work through the project. Detailed next-step photos for each step of creation ensure you won’t get lost or stuck!

Follow-Up Activity/Discussion: the project may be done, but the discussion doesn’t have to be – with suggested activities and talking points, the opportunities to share continue long after you put the supplies away

Activities include: Lent Countdown Activities Chain, Lent Promise Cards, Baking a Crown of Thorns, Creating a Moveable Boulder for Triduum, Via Dolorosa Trivia Cards, Butter Lamb Recipe, Growing an Easter Garden (with tomb and boulder), Making a Last Supper Recipe, Baking Hot Cross Buns (with custom gift tags + history), Coloring a Lent Prayer Stained Glass, Baking Pretzels for Triduum, and Pray, Fast, Give Magnets for Lent (and all year long!). While some of these activities are available on our site, each activity has been rewritten with detailed step-by-step photos to help you and your family make each project and grow this Lent and Easter season!

This 41-page book is sure to provide you with new ways to learn, grow, and explore this Lent and Easter season. With multiple projects available for each season, families can select those that best fit their time, availability, and age of children. Many of the projects can be left on display for months after you pack away your Easter eggs.

You can download your “Family Activities for Lent and Easter” eBook through Craftsy or Etsy. Pick the platform that’s easiest for you! I would love to see the projects you make – send me a photo or post to the comments below. If you’re on Instagram or Facebook, share your photos with the hashtag #faithandfabric so we can all connect and share our beautiful work. Wishing you all a faith-filled Lent and Easter season!

Back in 2013, I was at the park with my good friend Melinda, and we were talking about ways to celebrate Advent and bring more faith – and less commercialism -to Christmas. We decided to get together, and make some Jesse Tree ornaments – it was a wonderful chance to share a cup of tea, sew, and share faith.

Today, I’m honored to share the evolution of our project: “Our Family’s Jesse Tree”. This printable eBook contains over 80 pages of detailed ornament templates, daily scripture readings (with links to full text), devotions, and family-friendly activities inspired by the scripture. At the end of the book you’ll find instructions with photos on how to create the tree as well – because what good are ornaments without an adorable tree to hang them on? (A huge thank you to Melinda, who wrote and donated the daily “Opening Activity”, “Jesus Connection”, and “Prayer” – I couldn’t have done this without you!)

The book is broken up into four key areas: (1) “Before You Start”: provides you with context and background, (2) “Gather Your Materials”: suggests six different ways that each ornament can be made, depending on your level of craftiness and age, (3) Days 1-25: consists of three pages per day for each day of Advent, and (4) “Making the Tree”: instructions with photos for making the felt tree.

The 25 “days” are broken into three pages per day. The first page contains activities, suggested Bible readings, a summary (takeaway) of the readings, a tie-in of the story to Jesus, and a short prayer. You can pick and choose which of these activities are best for your family, as well as supplement or change the readings. The second page has the materials you will need to make the ornament; each is a hyperlink to Amazon where you can purchase any materials you may be missing.* Below the instructions is a photo showing the final hand-stitched ornament. The third page has – at the top – a coloring sheet which is perfect for crayons, colored pencils, paints, markers, or any other medium you choose. Below that are the templates for printing and cutting should you be making the ornaments from construction paper, card stock, craft foam, or felt.

What makes this book different than other Jesse Tree ornament patterns is not only the wealth of activities and devotions for each day, but the option for families to make a Jesse Tree ornament that fits their needs. Are you super crafty? Ornaments can be cut from fabric and hand sewn with the included patterns. Want to work on scissor skills with your children? Use the templates to cut pieces from craft foam or construction paper, and glue together. Have younger children who love crayons? Use the daily ornament coloring sheet – and then laminate it to preserve it for years to come. Not a crafter at all? No problem – cut out the ornament photo, laminate, and call it a day!

You can download “Our Family’s Jesse Tree” book through Craftsy or Etsy. Pick the platform that’s easiest for you! I would love to see the Jesse Tree ornaments you make – send me a photo or post to the comments below. If you’re on Instagram or Facebook, share your photos with the hashtag #ourfamilysjessetree so we can all connect and share our beautiful work. Wishing you all a faith-filled Advent and wonderful Christmas season!

REVIEWS

“Jen did a fabulous job of creating a family friendly Jesse Tree tradition with the freedom to go as simple or as advanced as you want!” – Rachel @ Efficient Momma

“This book is so much more than a DIY craft e-book; it is a beautiful resource that your family can come back to each Advent for activities, Bible readings, and prayers to go with your Jesse Tree.” –Gina @ Someday Saints

“Are you wanting to begin a new family tradition or do something different in your children’s ministry this Christmas season? Try a Jesse Tree using Our Family’s Jesse Tree from Faith and Fabric!” –Anne Marie @ Future Flying Saucers

“This fabulous book gives you plenty of options for creating your own adorable Jesse Tree, no matter how much time or craftiness you possess!” Lisa Healey @ Syncopated Mama

“In this easy-to-use book, Jen lays out engaging activities to draw in both children and parents, insightful reflections on how the Scriptures foretell Jesus’ saving work, and beautiful crafts to create your own Jesse Tree as your family prepares for Christmas.” Jess and Katie @ Sweet Little Ones

“My favorite element here might be the “Jesus connection” that highlights how this person or event is a part of Jesus’ fulfillment of scripture. What a great way to help kids understand salvation history and to link all those pieces together!” Rabia Lieber @ The Leibers

“Jen has provided those of us without a crafty bone in our bodies with a really great resource for starting a Jesse Tree tradition in our families with lots of helpful instructions, plenty of flexibility, activities, Scripture, and more for each day, and even a how-to on making our own Jesse Tree, not just the ornaments. Can’t wait to use it!” Kerri Baunach @ Journal of a Nobody & Catholic Sistas.

“I love that it goes through both the Old and New Testament weaving the story of God’s plan for salvation into an Advent study. I love that the kids can be a part of making and creating the Jesse Tree ornaments. They can color, they can cut out their ornaments, they can make them out of paper or felt, they can do the other little activity … all while learning the story of God’s love for us.” Sasha Mills @ Such A Time Blog

“I’m looking forward to incorporating this book into our season, and now that I have a beautiful set of patterns, we’ll be able to use them to the girls’ abilities over the years to come.” Annie Tillberg @ Annery at Home

“This book provides me with a beautiful and liturgically rich way to roll with the busy season and still keep our days rooted in Christ. I love the flexibility. I love the possibility.” Melody Lyons @ Blossoming Joy